F 541 
. 13 
Copy 1 



1918 



Suggestions 



for 

County and Local 
Celebrations 

of the 

One Hundredth Anniversary 

of the 

Admission of Illinois 

into the 

Federal Union 





ISSUED BY THE 

ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION 

SPRINGFIELD 

[Printed by authority of the State of Illinois] 



1818 1918 

Suggestions 

for 

County and Local 
Celebrations 

of the 

One Hundredth Anniversary 

of the 

Admission of Illinois 

into the 

Federal Union 




ISSUED BY THE 

ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION 

SPRINGFIELD 

[Printed by authority of the State of Illinois] 



T>4/ 



IMPORTANT DATES IN 1918 



APRIL 18 

One hundredth anniversary of the date upon which the Illinois 
Enabling Act was passed by Congress. 

AUGUST 26 

One hundredth anniversary of the date upon which the first 
State Constitution was adopted. 

OCTOBER 6 

One hundredth anniversary of the date upon which the first 
Governor was inaugurated. 

DECEMBER 3 

One hundredth anniversary of the date upon which the Illinois 

Constitution was approved by Congress and the 

State admitted into the Union. 



n, of P.- 

iJEC 24 t918 



A BILL 

For an Act to create the Illinois Centennial Commission and 
to define its powers and duties. 



Section 1. Be it enacted hy the People of the State of 
Illinois, represented in the General AssemMy: That there 
be and is hereby created a commission to be known as the 
Illinois Centennial Commission. Such commission shall be ap- 
pointed by the Governor and shall consist of fifteen members, 
who shall serve without compensation, but who shall be allowed 
their actual expenses while engaged in official business of the 
commission and in attending meetings of the said commis- 
sion. In case any vacancy shall occur on said commission, the 
Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment. The Governor 
shall designate the member who shall be chairman. The com- 
mission shall elect from its membership a secretary and may 
engage such employees as shall be deemed necessary. 

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Illinois Centennial 
Commission : 

1 — To arrange for and conduct a celebration in honor of 
the Centennial of the admission of the State of Illinois into the 
Federal Union. 

2 — To compile and publish a commemorative history of 
the State. 

3 — To report to the Fiftieth General Assembly the arrange- 
ments for such celebration. 



-To make a complete report to the Fifty-first General 
Assembly. 

Section 3. The Illinois Centennial Commission shall ex- 
pire when it shall have completed its duties and shall have 
made a complete report thereof to the Governor and the Fifty- 
first General Assembly, including a complete statement of its 
receipts and expenditures. 

Section 4. Whereas, an emergency exists ; therefore, this 
Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage. 

Approved January 21, 1916. 



ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION 

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION 
CAPITOL BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD 

Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, Chairman, 

38 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago. 

Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, Secretary. 

Capitol Building, Springfield. 

Edward Bowe, 

Jacksonville. 

Michael J. Daugherty, 
Galesburg. 

Nicholas W. Duncan, 
LaSalle. 

EvABTS B. Greene, Oscar W. Eckland, 

315 Lincoln Hall, 1114 East 63d St., 

Urbana. Chicago. 

Hugh S. Magill, Jr., Royal W. Ennis, 

Leland Office Building, Hillsboro. 

Springfield. 

Otto L. Schmidt, 

38 S. Dearborn St., 
Chicago. 

Frederic Siedenburg. John Schultz, 

617 Ashland Block, Beardstown. 

Loyola University, 

Chicago. Thomas F. Scuixt, 

County Building, 
Charles H. Starkel. Chicago. 

Belleville. 

John E. Traeger, 

County Building, 
Chicago. 

Peter A. Waller, 
Kewanee. 

Jessie Palmer Weber, 
State House, 
Springfield. 



COMMITTEES 

OF THE 

ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION 

EVABTS B. Greene, 
Chairman Committee on Centennial Memorial History, 

Royal W. Ennis, 
Chairman Committee on State-wide Celebration. 

Hugh S. Magill, Jr., 
Chairman Committee on Celebration at State Capital. 

Frederic Siedenburg, 
Chairman Committee on Publicity. 

Peter A. Waller, 
Chairman Committee on Centennial Memorial Building. 

Michael J. Daughebty, 
Chairman Committee on Historical Statues and Markings. 

Committee on Centennial Committee on Centennial 

Memorial History Memorial Building 

EvARTS B. Greene, Chairman, Peter A. Waller, Chairman, 

Charles H. Starkel, N. W. Duncan, 

Frederic Siedenburg, Charles H. Starkel, 

Royal W. Ennis, Oscar W. Eckland, 

0. L. ScHMmT. John B. Tbaegek. 

Committee on Celebration at 
Committee on State- Wide State Capital 

Celebration Hvgu S. Magill, Jr., Chairman, 

Royal W. Ennis, Chairman, Edward Bowe, 

M. J. Daugherty, Oscar W. Eckland, 

N. W. Duncan, John Schultz, 

John E. Traeger. Peter A. Waller. 

Jessie Palmer Weber. Jessie Palmer Weber. 

Committee on Publicity 

Frederic Siedenburg, Chairman, 
Thomas F. Scully, 
Edward Bowe, 
Hugh S. Magill, Jr., 
N. W. Duncan. 

Committee on Historical Statues and Markings 

M. J. Daugherty, Chairman, 
Evarts B. Greene, Charles H. Starkel, 

Thomas F. Scully, John Schultz. 

Sub-Committees of Committee on Celebration at State Capital 

Committee on Dedicatory Pro- Committee on Historical Pageant, 

gram, Hugh S. Magill, Jr., Jessie Palmer Weber, Chair- 

Chairman, man. 

Committee on Centennial Expo- 
sition, Edward Bowe, Chair- 
man. 






c 



A^'.v r.-^ 



&■/■ 







etsvly d. ce.nbur/ sJ^o bliei-e. wi>.s Cis.i-^e,(l out or bl2e 

old l^i'bliwGsb ^crribor/ev. acw sb^be, clG9bii2ecl bo 

pl^y<Mi20sb iiupoi'bcxrzb pcxrbia Ihe bi-sbory oF blie i2cxLioi2. ^o 

tJjisiiew con2nioi2w)Qe.l bl2 Wcxs h^en Uie nt^me. or 012G ol" bbe h\'Qi>.b 

nd\d.a bribes Uidl c(sni&io a breviic and on bisboric SLwi'vgcJ Roc1<\ 

(bbc bisbor/ or III11201S is ^v^oadGrrul sboi|^ "flcr r<\W 
proMnes l2c\\)e beconze procJucbiv'G f-lGlds. Pioi2Ger scbblenzeabs 
I2c\\)g cJevJcloped irabo \?ill^AGS,^xl2d OillivAes ii2bo drcb-b clbiGs. W2e\'e 
one'hundred yei.rs d.QO on bbe shores oF b^ke MicbiAcsiz sboocl 
loiielx Fork DG<Nrbori2, bodcs>^ sbc>.i?ds OLirArGi\b njcli-opolls. 

i?o kumd^ri miiid AceabuiyAgo, hovt'cv'Gr povc/erFtil ibs 
n,T2aAii2Abioii, could biNv>e dreixraed oF bbe tbiiiAs tizcxb I2a\?g 
b.c\:uc\]\y como, bo pd.ssh Illinois. GrG<xb bas beer? bbe dev'elop- 
imei-zb oF bcr mekberiAl resources, bub^rcdber ber rn£M2hood. 
he bd? furnlsked met; to meeb bar own Are&b problems, <^nd 
m&n bo ra&bcb bbeAre^ber problem? oF bbe na^bioa. 

^ ) "rSob w/!bkoub bliy wondrous sboryT Illinois, llliiiois, 
nrj^'t} Car be wrib bbe rzAbion's ^iory, llliaois, Illinois. 

:;::'©'liere ho^s come bo us oF bhis Aei2crAbioi2 bbe oppor- 
hunlhy&nd pnv'ilGAe oF celebrAbia^ bbe one hundredth 
iKnn\\)e\'Sd.\y^ o[- bbe Admission oF our st^be inbo the "Fed- 
erci^i union. We should bd^ke adv^cxnbey^e oF bbis op- 
porbunlhy bo impress- upon the minds oF aII oF our 
people bbe \x?ondcrFul sbor/ o^"- the proArcS'S cNnd 

.Mev'elopmenb oF Illinois. 

.;") (do cd.rry oub this purpose bbe Geacrcvl Assem- 
bly ci'etxbed the Illinois Cenbennia.1 Commissiorz, 
-) tbc members or which hd^Qe been appointed by 

' the Gov^eriioi'. 



T 



THE STATE CENTENNIAL 
COMMISSION 

HE Act creating the Illinois Centennial Commission 
directs it to arrange for and conduct a celebration in 
honor of the State 's Centennial. 



The commission plans for an impressive centennial ob- 
servance by the official Government of the State of Illinois at 
the State Capital, and also hopes to arouse the counties, cities 
and towns of the State to celebrate the centennial year in their 
respective localities, officially, assisted by their local bodies of 
educational, social and commercial organizations. 

For this latter purpose a letter has been sent by the com- 
mission to certain county officials in each county, calling upon 
them to organize their counties for planning local centennial 
celebrations in 1918. 

It is the earnest desire of the commission to do everything 
in its power to promote an adequate and dignified observance 
of the Illinois Centennial Celebration and it has arranged a 
general plan as outlined in the following pages. 

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL PUBLICATIONS 

In accordance with the general policy of marking the 
centennial year by work of permanent value, the commission 
has made arrangements for the publication of a Centennial 
History of Illinois, which is expected to appear in 1918. The 
plan, as adopted by the first commission in 1913 and recently 
confirmed by the present commission, provides for a history 
of the State from the beginning of European colonization to 
the present time, with some introductory account of the Indian 
aboriginal population. The first volume will cover the periods 
of French and British dominion, the Revolution, and the terri- 
torial period, closing with the admission of Illinois as a State 
in 1818. The second volume entitled, "The Frontier State," 
will cover the first thirty years of statehood-, volume HI the 
era of sectional controversy and civil war; and the last two 
volumes will bring the narrative down to date, with special 
attention to industrial development and governmental prob- 
lems. The whole series is under the editorial supervision of 
Professor Clarence "W. Alvord of the State University, who is 



well known to students of Illinois history as the editor of the 
"Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library." In 
addition to this comprehensive history, the commission expects 
to publish this year a special volume entitled, "Illinois in 
1818." 

In planning this series of publications, emphasis is laid 
on the importance of so telling the story that it shall be not 
only scientific in spirit, and accurate in its presentation of 
facts, but also interesting to the general reader. 

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL BUILDING 

The General Assembly has already recognized the pro- 
priety and importance of a building to commemorate the 
one hundredth anniversary of Illinois as a State of the 
Federal Union, by appropriating funds for the purchase of 
land to be used as the site for such a building. This building 
is much needed on account of the crowded condition of the 
Capitol, and the proposed Centennial Memorial Building should 
contain all the features that have been planned for it from the 
standpoint of the State's needs as a practical office building, 
and also be a magnificent memorial, providing adequately for 
the historical collections of the State, its archives and other 
collateral interests. 

It is now too late for such a building to be completed and 
dedicated as a part of the centennial celebration, but it can be 
begun and well on its way toward completion and can show at 
that time that Illinois has not forgotten to provide a lasting 
and beautiful memorial of its first century of progress as a 
Sovereign State of the Union. 

HISTORICAL STATUES AND MARKINGS 

It is the opinion of the commission that it is not desir- 
able to include in the work of the official celebration by the 
State, a large number of statues or monuments. It seems 
best that this matter be largely left to the particular counties 
or cities who may recognize in the centennial year, men who 
have been especially associated with such localities. The com- 
mission desires, however, to give its cordial endorsement and 
support to the plans inaugurated by the Forty-eighth General 
Assembly, and now being carried on by the State Art Commis- 
sion for the erection of statues in commemoration of Lincoln 



and Douglas on the Capitol grounds. We would further sug- 
gest the desirability of making preparations at this time for a 
monument or tablet especially recognizing the services of 
Nathaniel Pope, territorial delegate in Congress at the time 
of the admission of Illinois into the Union, to whom the chief 
credit for the passage of the enabling act in its final form 
is due. 

PUBLICITY 

Since publicity is the one thing necessary to the unquali- 
fied success of the Centennial Celebration, a special committee 
on publicity has been appointed. This committee working in 
conjunction with the other committees, especially the State-wide 
and Publication Committees, hopes to attract the attention of 
the public to the celebration in 1918 so that every man, womau 
or child in the State will not only know the general facts of the 
celebration, but will be familiar with its details. 

Much work has already been done to prepare the way for 
this publicity, especially in communications to the newspapers 
of the State. Over 20,000 news items relating to the activities 
of the commission and the centennial plans have been fur- 
nished the newspapers of Illinois and neighboring states and 
it seems a reasonable assumption that there can hardly be any 
one within the State whose attention has not been called to 
the approaching centenary. 

Beginning in the fall of 1916 the newspaper propaganda 
will be renewed and publicity will be sought through many 
channels, especially through public and private schools, teach- 
ers' institutes, and by public addresses given by members or 
representatives of the Centennial Commission. No effort will be 
spared to bring before the people of this State the fact that 
the Centennial is fast approaching and that it must be cele- 
brated in a manner befitting the occasion. 

The press has already taken up the work with great in- 
terest ; the schools and other agencies will no doubt generously 
respond and the committee looks forward without misgivings 
that its work will be a big factor in the success of the centen- 
nial celebration. 



THE CELEBRATION AT THE STATE CAPITAL 
It is planned to make the celebration at the State Capital 
an event of State-wide significance and historical impor- 
tance. An important feature will be the Centennial Expo- 
sition, displaying the agricultural and manufacturing progress 
of the State with its varied resources. There will also 
be a Historical Pageant, setting forth graphically and with 
artistic beauty the wonderful development that has been 
attained in a hundred years of progress. It is the purpose of 
the commission to make the Dedicatory Program particularly 
impressive and one of the principal features of the centennial 
observance. An effort will be made to interest other states of 
the Union in this program, and because of the world-famed 
characters that Illinois has produced, it is not unlikely that 
other nations may send representatives to participate in this 
event. 

It is probable that the celebration at the State Capital 
will be held during the first two weeks of October, 1918. The 
sixth of October, the day upon which the first Governor of 
Illinois was inaugurated, will be observed in a special manner. 
It is suggested that county celebrations be not held during 
these two weeks, as it is greatly desired that all the people of 
the State may be free during this period to attend the great 
celebration at Springfield. 

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE 

It is apparent that it would be impossible to hold the at- 
tention of six millions of people for one day or to assemble 
them at one place for the celebration, hence it is suggested 
that the county be made the unit, and organized for the cele- 
bration as outlined in a letter recently sent by the commission 
to certain county officials. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR COUNTY CELEBRATIONS 

The celebration in your county may well take the place 
in 1918 of your County Fair, Old Settlers' Day or other annual 
event, or it may be held in connection with the same. 

It is important that there shall be something permanent in 
connection with your celebration, so that when all else shall 
have been forgotten with reference thereto, there shall remain 
some permanent memorial, that your county had a part in this 

10 



great event. This may be a statue of some important citizen 
of the county. In such case the local committee should com- 
municate with the State Art Commission, who will be glad to 
cooperate. Perhaps a boulder, appropriately inscribed, may 
be placed to mark some historic place or event, such as an 
Indian battle or engagement, or a debate. An historic road 
or trail may be appropriately marked. 

Relics of pioneer citizens and places may be gathered and 
exhibited with authentic accounts as to where, when and by 
whom they were brought into the county or of what they 
formed a part. 

A complete list of the authors, painters, sculptors and other 
notables of the county may be made, together with biographical 
data and portraits of such persons, 

A permanent room or building may be secured and dedi- 
cated for the preservation and display of all historical col- 
lections, 

A competent person should be secured to write the history 
of religious organizations that now are, or have been in the 
county and as far as possible these histories should be illus- 
trated. Enlist the pupils of the higher grades of the schools 
of your county to write a history of the county of not more 
than two thousand words. This might be a competition and 
prizes offered for the best history. It would be well to have 
the reading of the prize essay a feature of the county cele- 
bration. A copy of this history should be sent to Mrs. Jessie 
Palmer Weber, Springfield, 111., Secretary of the Centennial 
Commission. 

If there is not now a satisfactory history of the county, 
it would be well to have one written by some one competent to 
do the work. 

There may be held at the county seat, or the largest city 
in the county, as the general committee may determine, an 
historical pageant reviewing the county's history. The scenario 
for this may well be written by some one in the county. In 
ease a pageant is determined upon, Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, 
Chairman of the Pageant Committee of the Centennial Commis- 
sion, can give valuable suggestions. 

In order that every community may have a part in the 
celebration, every public and private school in the county 

11 



should set apart one day when appropriate exercises will be 
beld. 

It is also suggested that the ministers of the county be 
requested to present historical addresses or sermons on the 
Sunday preceding the county celebration. 

TIME OF CELEBRATION 
It is the plan of the Illinois Centennial Commission to 
have the State ablaze throughout 1918 Avith its celebration and 
in order that this may be, it will be well for each County Cen- 
tennial Association to take up the matter of TIME with the 
chairman of the State-wide Celebration Committee in order 
that there may not be conflicting dates between neighboring 
counties. By the proper arrangement and assignment of dates 
it will be possible to have during the entire summer and fall 
months celebrations throughout the State. 

Celebrations may be planned for one or more days, prefer- 
ably from two to four days. As your plans progress you will 
see the necessity of having adequate time to properly bring 
before the people all that pertains to the life of your county 
and State. 

It is probable that the celebration at the State Capital 
will occur during the first two weeks in October, 1918. 
Weather conditions are likely to be favorable at that season, 
and it will be the duty and privilege of all citizens of the State 
to aid in this great celebration, festival and jubilee. 

The University of Illinois will at this time celebrate the 
fiftieth anniversary of its organization with great and impres- 
sive ceremony, and it is expected that this will be a part of the 
State's observance of its Centennial. 

If the people of the State appreciate the significance and 
grandeur of the occasion and a united effort is made to observe 
it in a manner appropriate to its importance, the Illinois Cen- 
tennial will present to the world a celebration which will be 
the greatest of its kind ever given in America and it will be a 
standard for the younger states to attempt to equal when their 
centennial anniversaries occur. 



12 



SUGGESTIONS FOR A PROGRAM FOR 

LOCAL CENTENNIAL 

CELEBRATIONS 



MORNING 

Industrial parade — towns and townships represented, manufacturing, 
mining, mercantile, agricultural, educational. Floats and designs. 

Competition for best display. 

Display of historical relics, also of art and literature of the county. 
This should continue a week or more. 

Regimental Reunions of the G. A. R. and Spanish-American War 

Veterans. 

AFTERNOON 
Exercises in park or largest available auditorium. 
America. (All the people.) 
Illinois. Sung by all the people. 
The Story of the county. 
Music. 

Dedication of the county's Centennial Memorial. 
Address by the Governor or some noted speaker. 
Music. 

Home-Coming. Reunions. 
Reception to old settlers and former residents of county. 

EVENING 
Historical Pageant. 

Band Concert. 



13 



Suggestions for a Program for Local Centennial 

Celebrations which are to Continue for 

Two or More Days 

SUNDAY 

Morning 
Historical Address by the Pastor of each Church. 

Evening 
Union Centennial Service. 

MONDAY 

Morning 

Industrial parade — cities, towns and townships represented — mercan- 
tile, manufacturing, mining, agricultural and educational — with floats 
and designs. 

Prizes or medals awarded by committee for best display. 

Display of Historical Relics; also exhibit of the art and literature of 
the county. This should be on exhibition not less than a week. 

Afternoon 
School pageant, or drills, with folk dances. 

Evening 
Band Concerts of patriotic music. 

TUESDAY 

Morning 
Home-Coming. 
Regimental Reunions of G. A. R. and Spanish-American War Veterans. 

Afternoon 
Addresses by former residents of the county. 
Reception to Old Settlers and former residents. 

Evening 
Concert of old fashioned music. 

WEDNESDAY 

Afternoon 
Invocation. 

Music — Illinois. All the people. 

Dedication of the county's centennial memorial, with appropriate cere- 
monies. 
Address by noted orator. 
Reading of the story of the county. » 

Evening 
Historical Pageant. 

14 



SUGGESTIONS FOR A PROGRAM FOR 

A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

BY SCHOOLS 



Music. Song — America. 

Song — Illinois. 

Song — Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. 
County Songs. 

Readings. Sleep, Old Pioneer. Will Carleton. 

Oh, Captain! My Captain! Walt Whitman. 
Extracts from First Settler's Story. Will Carleton. 
The Prairies. Bryant. 
Stories of the County. 

Compositions. Sketch of County. 

Our State Boundary Lines. 
Pioneer Life. 
Illinois in 1818. 
Slavery in Illinois. 

Every school should have a good local county and State map. 
These could be presented by the Board of Directors as a feature of 
the program. 

Where rural school is small, two or more schools might meet 
together. In this case the program could be given in one school one 
day and in the other the next day or following week. 

A basket dinner might be a pleasant feature on the day of the 
celebration. 



15 



SUGGESTIONS FOR A PROGRAM FOR 

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

BY SCHOOLS 



SONG— ILLINOIS. 

PAGEANT 

Showing events of early history and development. 

IMPERSONATION 

All of the Governors may be impersonated (costumed), and a 
brief statement concerning each. Local personages might be 
represented. 

THEMES 

Sons and Daughters of the Prairie State. (A number of short 

sketches of noted Illinois Men and Women.) 
Looking back a Hundred Years, or Achievements of a Century. 
The Development of the Educational System of the State. 
Illinois Legends such as the Piasa Bird, Illiola, Black Hawk, 
Lovers' Leap, Historic Nooks and Corners. 

READINGS 

Reading of prize essay on the History of the County. 

Extracts from noted speeches. See Lusk's Politics and Poli- 
ticians, pp. 118-21; 139-41; 177-78. 

Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech. 

Extracts from Historical Novels dealing with Illinois events, 
especially of this locality. 

Hiawatha, or an original Indian play, may be presented to illus- 
trate Indian life and customs. 

MUSIC 

The music for the program should be reflective of the variety 
of music and songs sung within the century. 



16 



SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE 
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS 



1673. Joliet and Marquette, French explorers, first reached the Illinois 
country. 

1675. Kaskaskia Mission, founded near present site of city of Utica 
by Father Marquette. 

1682. Fort St. Louis of the Rock erected on Starved Rock by LaSalle. 

1699. Cahokia Mission established near site of present city of East 
St. Louis. 

1700 Kaskaskia Mission established and Kaskaskia Indians removed 
to site known as Kaskaskia, which became the prmcipal city 
of the Illinois country, and Territorial Capital and first State 
Capital of Illinois, near present city of Chester. 

■^''^^ f First Fort Chartres built by the French. 

1763. Illinois country, together with Canada, ceded to the British by 

the French. 
1765. British soldiers take possession of Fort Chartres and the Illinois 

country. 
1778. George Rogers Clark conquers the Illinois country for Virginia. 

1778. October. County of Illinois created by the Virginia Legislature. 

1779. Col. John Todd, commandant of the Illinois County of Virginia, 

organizes a temporary government at Kaskaskia. 

1783. Treaty of Peace with Great Britain recognizes title of the 

United States to the Illinois Country. 

1784. March 1. Virginia cedes Northwest Territory to the United 

States. 
1784. April. First ordinance for the Northwest Territory. 
1787. July 13. Ordinance for the government of the Northwest Terri- 
tory. 
1790. Governor Arthur St. Clair visits Kaskaskia. 

County of St. Clair organized. 
1795. Judge Turner holds Court for St. Clair County. 

Records removed from Cahokia to Kaskaskia. 

Randolph County created. 

Treaty of Greenville has part of Illinois reserved for Indian 

occupancy. 

17 



SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS 

1799. General Assembly organized for Northwest Territory. 

Illinois sends two Representatives. 

1800. May 7. Formation of Indiana Territory, which included Illinois. 
1809. February 3. Illinois Territory organized. 

1809. April 24. Ninian Edwards appointed Territorial Governor. 

1809. June. Governor and Judges first met as a law making body at 
Kaskaskia. 

1812. May 21. Illinois raised to second grade of Territorial Govern- 
ment. 
October. Election of Territorial officers and delegate to 
Congress. 

1812. First session of Territorial Legislature at Kaskaskia. 

1812 



,oiir r The second war with Great Britain, 
isio 

1812. August 15. Massacre of Fort Dearborn. 

1813. Pre-emption Act for Illinois passed by Congress. 

1818. April 18. Act of Congress enabling the people of Illinois to 
form a State Constitution and fixing present northern bound- 
ary line of the State. 

1818. July. Election of members of Constitutional Convention. 

1818. August 26. Constitutional Convention adopted and proclaimed a 
State Constitution for Illinois. 

1818. September 17. First election of State officers. 

1818. October 5. First State General Assembly met at Kaskaskia. 

1818. October 6. Shadrach Bond inaugurated as first Governor of 
the State of Illinois. 

1818. December 3. Illinois formally admitted as a State of the Fed- 
eral Union. 

1820. Removal of State offices to Vandalia. 

1823. Legislature passes resolution for Constitutional Convention. 

1823. December 9. Statehouse destroyed by fire. 

1825. First General School Law enacted. 

1825. General Lafayette visits Illinois. 

1832. Black Hawk War. 

1833. Town of Chicago incorporated. 

1837. February. Bill passed General Assembly making Springfield 

capital of State. 

1838. November 8. First locomotive in Illinois run on Northern Cross 

Railroad. 

18 



SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS 

1846, Troops leave for Mexican War. 

1848. New Constitution for the State ratified by the people. 

1850. Congressional land grant for Illinois Central Railroad. 

1851. Illinois Central Railroad Company incorporated by the State. 

(Road built by 1856.) 

1855. General education law passed. 
1858. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates. 

1860. Abraham Lincoln of Illinois elected President of the United 

States. 

1861. Civil War begins. First call for volunteers by President Lincoln 

and Governor Yates. Illinois Democrats and Republicans 
unite in support of the Union. 

1861. June 3. Stephen A. Douglas dies at Chicago. 

1862. Third State Constitutional Convention. Proposed Constitution 

rejected by the people. 

1863. Legislature of Illinois accepts Congressional Grant of Land for 

establishing colleges of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 

1864. Abraham Lincoln of Illinois re-elected President of the United 

States. 

1865. Illinois the first State to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment 

to the Constitution of the United States abolishing slavery. 
Repeal of the Black Code. 

1865. April 14. Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford's Theatre, 
Washington, D. C. Dies April 15. 

1867. Illinois ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution 

of the United States. 
The State University incorporated. 

1868. Ulysses S. Grant of Illinois elected President of the United 

States. 

1869. Illinois ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution 

of the United States. 

Fourth State Constitutional Convention. 

1870. Third State Constitution ratified by the people. 

1871. Great Chicago Fire. 

1872. General Incorporation Law for cities and villages under which 

most of the cities of the State, including Chicago, are now 
organized. 

Ulysses S. Grant of Illinois re-elected President of the United 
States. 

19 



SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS 

1873. "The Panic of 1873." State Farmers' Convention at Springfield. 
The "Farmers' Movement" for political action restraining cor- 
porate interests. (1873-1876.) 

1880. The Supreme Court of Illinois affirms the constitutionality of 
the railroad law of 1873. (Illinois Central R. R. v. The People 
of the State of Illinois, 95 Illinois Reports, 313.) 

1886. Anarchist riots at Chicago. Anarchist leaders convicted. 

1889. Revision of the School Law. Compulsory education law (sub- 
sequently amended). 

1891. Australian ballot system adopted. 

1893. Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 

1894. Pullman and American Railway union strikes at Chicago. 

1898. Spanish-American War. Illinois furnished nine Regiments of 
Infantry, one Cavalry Regiment, one Battery of Artillery. 

1900. Chicago Drainage Canal opened. 

1903. Iroquois Theatre Fire. 

1903. Mueller Law passed, allowing city ownership of street railways. 
Constitutional amendment submitted by the Legislature author- 
izing the consolidation of local government in Chicago. 
Adopted. 

1908. The present Direct Primary Law adopted at special session of 
the Legislature. 

1908. Law passed declaring Native Oak State Tree, and Wood Violet 

State Flower. 

1909. One hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. 

Great celebrations at Springfield and Chicago. 

1913. Commission created by General Assembly to make plans for 
Illinois' Centennial in 1918. 
Woman's Suffrage Law passed. 

Kaskaskia Island Sanitary and Levee District created. 
Workmen's Compensation Act passed by General Assembly. 

1915. Epidemic of "Foot-and-Mouth" disease breaks out in cattle, 
sheep and swine in Illinois. Large appropriations made by 
General Assembly to stamp out disease. 
State flag or ensign for Illinois authorized by General Assembly. 

1915. Legislature passes Act authorizing construction of the Illinois 
Waterway. 



20 



i;;;;: 



014 752 450 ft # 



